Professor earns punishment for skipping out on jury duty

HOUSTON (AP) - Skipping out on jury duty proved costly for a university professor.

Sara White, 62, a social work professor at Texas Southern University, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 days in jail for leaving during jury selection last week.

But U.S. District Judge David Hittner gave her the option of instead spending 10 eight-hour days in the federal courthouse jury room.

"This is a terrible example for students, when a professor tells a federal court to 'Go take a jump; I'm leaving,'" Hittner said.

White, who pleaded guilty to criminal contempt, admitted she "made a grievous error in leaving the courtroom."

Hittner said White will have to sit in the jury room for eight hours a day without reading materials or contact with anyone. If she violates his order or is abusive to court personnel, she will have to serve the full 10-day jail term.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Marshall Baker and Hittner's case manager, Ellen Alexander, testified during the hearing that White had also been verbally abusive to them.

During jury selection, White had complained about feeling ill, but Hittner told her to remain seated because jury selection was almost over.